Gatehouse

/ˈɡeɪthaʊs/ noun

Definition

A small building standing at or near a gate, often serving as a residence for a gatekeeper or a checkpoint for entry.

Etymology

Compound of gate plus house. Common in medieval fortifications, estates, and walled cities; the term preserves the important role of controlled access in earlier societies.

Kelly Says

Medieval gatehouses were incredibly strategic buildings—small, cramped, but positioned so defenders could control everything entering or leaving, making them the original security checkpoints.

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